I write columns for several newspaper trade publications in my capacity at the university. Upon submission of my latest to a state trade group— a first happened.
They rejected my column. They said it read like prideful bragging and that I might alienate other journalism schools in the state.
Fair enough. I reversed course and resubmitted another piece. This one was about the perils of AI in journalism— very professorial. They loved that one and accepted it.
But, I am still behooved to pridefully brag about my students at the university. Though I don’t consider it “bragging.” I consider it “marketing.” That is, spreading the good news that, in fact, this next generation of professionals is amazing.
Don’t believe the trash you hear about Gen Z being out of touch. They are not, and the kids are gonna be alright.
I realize you may not know any of the folks mentioned here, and I appreciate your indulgence. They deserve to be mentioned, and I need not worry about having a piece rejected from my own newspaper.
I have dedicated my work at the university to placing the next generation of journalists at their first jobs.
We have been successful and graduation season behooves me to brag on a few of our brightest who have recently entered the professional ranks.
My first success story was Christa Wilson. She graduated a few years back and found a home with Cherry Road Media. She is a multimedia account rep and calls on customers in Stephenville, Brownwood and Glen Rose— among others. She was my intern at the Texas Center for Community Journalism in spring 2022. She was integral to my transition of directorship and is one of the most level-headed, hardworking students I have ever known.
Landon Davis has been a sportswriter at the Archer County News since graduating from Tarleton in December 2023. I spoke with Landon just last week. He loves the community news business and admits it was an unlikely fit for him. He just didn’t ever think writing small town sports would be something he’d enjoy. But he is and he does enjoy it— immensely. He loves it and plans to build his career around it.
Jaxon Hansard is another Tarleton grad turned sportswriter. He was our sports editor at the student newspaper. He has been at the Hood County News since he walked across the stage in December 2024. Jaxon has settled into a routine in Hood County and, by all accounts, is making the job his own.
Another former student newspaper staffer contributing to the industry in North Texas is our former editor-in-chief Jolee Skinner. She is thriving as a staff writer at the Springtown Epigraph. Jolee has found her niche covering local news and has been pivotal in maintaining newsroom continuity in the wake of their recent ownership transition.
Most recently, Haeley Carpenter has accepted a position at the Kerrville Daily Times as a general assignment reporter. She has been with us at the student newspaper for two years and served the TCCJ as a student intern this spring. There was competition among several publishers to land Haeley as an employee and Kerrville won out. She will do wonderful things there.
Outside of the traditional community newspaper, the Tarleton journalism program has recently placed several other students in other walks of community journalism.
Copeland Welch is anchoring the evening news at KTXS in Abilene. Peyton Fanning is an account executive at KXII in Sherman.
Kiley Morgan has been at the Cowboy Channel over the past year while finishing her Tarleton degree— literally working full-time as a one-man production unit while finishing her bachelor’s degree.
Over the past year, we have also helped place students who were not our own.
I met Katelyn Steffen at the College Media Convention in New Orleans. She was a Dallas Community College student in search of a job. I introduced her to John Starkey and he gave her a role at Rambler Texas Media (Irving).
The same thing happened when I met Tarrant County College’s Alex Hoben at the Texas Community College Journalism Association Convention last fall. She was inspired to work in community journalism. We kept in touch and, a few months later, I introduced her to Randy Keck at the Community News (Aledo) where she is now employed.
And, the bench is warm.
We have current students working— both full-time and as stringers— at places like Irving, Dublin, Whitesboro, Pilot Point, Stephenville and the Barrel Horse News in Fort Worth. They are doing the work now, so they can master the work in the future.